The first building at the USD Discovery District is ready for innovators

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The USD Discovery District in northwestern Sioux Falls has been on a journey of ups and downs over the last few years but now its first building is officially open for business.

A 57,000-square-foot building now stands as the first of many for future innovators in the USD Discovery District’s research park.

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“Our idea is really to market to the life science and biotech industries here in Sioux Falls to draw both companies from outside as well as support companies and efforts in research and development here in South Dakota,” Ryan Oines, interim President of the USD Discovery District, said.

Inside, you’ll still find some construction, but three tenants have already been named to fill these spaces.

“The Small Business Development Center is out here, they have the SDBIR office, and then Prairie Family Business,” Oines said. “And then our tenant that we’re actually currently building out for is OmegaQuant Analytics.”

The USD Discovery District is its own 501(c)(3) but obviously has close ties with the University of South Dakota both in name and proximity. Being just across the street from the USD-Sioux Falls campus, there will be collaborations between students and businesses.

“There will come a day as we have more businesses here where we will have scientists and entrepreneurs who can walk down the street to our campus as lecturers for our students, as well as provide internships at the businesses in the Discovery District and jobs after they graduate,” Jay Perry, Vice President for USD-Sioux Falls, said.

The new building is also surrounded by land that serves as a blank canvas for more growth of the research park.

“The goal is in our master plan to have 26 buildings out here, both mixed-use but with a large focus on biotech,” Oines said.

Oines says they plan to start construction on the next building soon.